FFRF ends religious promotion by police (December 4, 2013)

FFRF stopped proselytization by a police officer in Toledo, Ohio. A concerned citizen informed FFRF Staff Attorney Elizabeth Cavell that during a traffic collision investigation, after asking whether the citizen attended church, the officer started recommending to him various churches in the area.

Cavell requested in a Nov. 26 letter that the police department remind the officer that such actions are unconstitutional under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

“[The officer’s] overt promotion of religion while acting in his official capacity as a government agent gives the unfortunate impression that the Toledo PD endorses Christianity over other religions and generally endorses religion over nonreligion,” wrote Cavell. In his response on Dec. 4, the Chief of Police assured FFRF that the situation would be investigated further and that “[the officer’s] supervisor was made aware of the incident and was instructed to counsel [the officer] about his actions.”